Mechanism for propelling boats



Oct. 27, 1936. Q CARLSQN MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING BOATS Fild Deb. l, 1953 3 Sheet-She'et 1 IN VENT OR car/son.

Conrad ATTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1936. c. CARLSON MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING BOATS Filed Dec. 1, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Conrad Cal /son.- y

4 A TTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1936. c. CARLSON MECHANISM FOR PROEELLINGABOATS Filed Dec. 1, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Con/ad Car/son. BY

A TTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFER 1 Conrad Carlson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 1, 1933, Serial No. 700,476

3 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for propelling boats. It is particularly concerned with an improved form of rowing mechanism, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a form of mechanism which permits the rower of the boat to face forward in propelling the boat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism of the above character which shall be simple, rugged and inexpensive in con- 10 struction, and which may be applied to the standard types of row boats, by means of a simple clamping mechanism.

Various other features and objects of the in- 7 vention will appear from the following descrip- 15 tion of certain preferred embodiments thereof having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat with one form of my mechanism applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a detail view, being a section of Figure 1 along lines 2-2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a detail View, being a section of Figure 1 along lines 33;

Figure 4 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, showing the mechanism of the present invention in folded or inoperative position;

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views showing portions of the mechanism in elevation;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a modification of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a detail view showing in elevation a portion of the mechanism of Figure 7.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in each of the several views.

In Figure 1, reference character I designates a row boat of conventional type. Numerals 2 designate oars for propelling the boat. The mechanisms for operating the oars have mirror sym- 40 metry with reference to each other and the present description, therefore, will have reference to the mechanism provided on one side, i. e., the port side of the boat, it being understood that the description will apply in similar manner to the mechanism on the starboard side.

The end of oar 2 is received in a clamp 3 provided with a bolt 4, which cooperates with the flange 3 and 3 of the clamp for the purpose of holding the end of the car firmly within the clamp. Clamp 3 is pivotally mounted on a set screw 5 which cooperates with a collar 6 slidable on a sleeve 1 free to turn about a shaft 8. Clamps II and 12 are provided for detachably mounting shaft 8 on the side wall of the boat. These clamps are of simple construction and consist of jaws I and I3 for engaging opposite sides ofthe wall of the boat, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The shank of jaw I3 is slidable inan opening IA- of jaw l0, and wing nut I is provided to secure the clamp in position. Each. clamp is provided with a hole 9 to receive the end of shaft 8, and. a set screw, 16 is provided to secure the shaft firmly in the clamp.

An operating lever I! is pivotally secured to sleeve '5 by'means of parts Il which are similar 10 to clamp 3 and its associated elements for connecting the car 2 to sleeve l. A link [8 is pro: vided to connect lever I! with oar '2,-the parts of this connection comprising at each end a clamp l9 similar to clamp a; Link l8'is bentadjacent each end through aright" angle and passed through a hole in each clamp. The ends of link l8 are upset to provide heads to hold the link in position.

The operation of the device of my invention will now be readily understood. The operator of the rowing mechanism isseated on a seat 22 of the boat and faces toward the bow. He then grasps the ends of the levers l1 and operates these like conventional oars. As he pulls the 5 levers toward himself the cars 2 are caused to swing through arcs in a rearward direction. The boat is then propelled in the direction in which the rower is seated. It will be observed that when the ends of lever I! are depressed, for the return stroke, sleeve 1 will be turned slightly on shaft 8. This rotation is transmitted to the pivots 5 of oars 2, so that the ends of these cars are lifted out of the water, as in conventional rowing practice.

Depending upon the curvature of the side of th boat, clamp blocks 23 are preferably provided in one of the clamps II and I2 on each side of the boat, for the purpose of providing such inclination toshaft 8 and sleeve 1 that the position of oar 2 40 will be as shown on the starboard side of the boat of Figure 4, when lever I1 is turned to its extreme rearward position. In this position, it will be observed, the mechanism is folded up and only the tip of car 2 projects from the periphery of the boat. If desired, the folded mechanism may be turned about shaft 9 into the position indicated at the port side ofFigure 4, in which position the blade of the oar is horizontal and substantially the entire car is within the confines of the boat.

It will be observed that the entire mechanism in its collapsed position may readily be removed from the boat by operating the wing nuts l5 to release the pressure of the clamps I I and I2.

In the modified form shown in Figure 7, the general arrangement is the same as that in the previous form of embodiment, but the parts are so proportioned that instead of the stub cars 2 of Figure 1, full length cars 24 may be employed. With this arrangement it is possible for two persons to operate the one set of cars. One of these, who is seated facing forwardly, as on seat 25, will operate the levers l1 and the other, who is seated facing rearwardly as on seat 26, will operate the oars 24 in conventional manner.

Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the mechanism for mounting the oars. In this modification the hollow shaft 8 which corresponds to shaft 8 of the previous embodiment, is mounted to rotate in the openings 9 of clamps I I and I2, screw caps 21 being provided to prevent sliding movement of the shaft. The levers l1 and oars 2 are pivotally attached directly to shaft 8 the mechanism for effecting this attachment being similar to that shown in Figure 6 and bearing similar reference characters. It will be observed that the latter modified arrangement is even simpler than that of the previous form.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire tocover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an oar, a lever, a shaft, means for detachably mounting said shaft in a substantially horizontal direction on the side wall of the boat, said shaft being free to turn about its axis, means for said lever and said oar for pivotally connecting each of them with said shaft, said means for each comprising a member having an axis at right angles to that of the shaft, about which axis said lever and said oar, respectively, are free to swing, and a link for connecting a point of the lever on one side of its pivot with a point of the car on the opposite side of its pivot,

said oar having a handle portion extending beyond the point of pivotal connection of the oar to the shaft, to permit operation of said oar by force applied to said handle portion.

2. In combination, an oar, a lever, a shaft, means for detachably mounting said shaft in a substantially horizontal direction on the side wall of the boat, said shaft being free to turn about its axis, means for said lever and said oar for pivotally connecting each of them with said shaft, said means for each comprising a member having an axis at right angles to that of the shaft, about which axis said lever and said oar, respectively, are free to swing, and means for each member for permitting adjustment of the position of said member longitudinally of said shaft, and a link for connecting a point of the lever on one side of its pivot with a point of the car on the opposite side of its pivot, said oar having a handle portion extending beyond the point of pivotal connection of the car to the shaft, to permit operation of said car by force applied to said handle portion.

3. In combination, an oar, a lever, a shaft, means for detachably mounting said shaft in a substantially horizontal direction on the side wall of the boat, said shaft being free to turn about its axis, means for said lever and said oar for pivotally connecting each of them with said shaft, said means for each comprising a member having an axis at right angles to that of the shaft, about which axis said lever and said oar, respectively, are free to swing, and means for each member for permitting adjustment of the position of said member longitudinally of said shaft, a slidable clamp on the lever on one side of its pivot, another slidable clamp on the car on the other side of its pivot, and a link connecting said clamp, said instrumentalities affording in combination a means to secure virtually universal adjustments between said oar and its operating lever.

CONRAD CARLSON. 

